Black Knights will be wary of unfamiliar opponent
Knights: Set for state opener
Tuesday, May 29 http://www.lancnews.com/sports/index.htm By Kevin Freeman PIAA VOLLEYBALL Fear of the unknown will be enough to get
the Hempfield High School boys" volleyball team
ready for the PIAA Tournament. The Black Knights open states with a first-round match against Pennsbury,
the second seed out of District One, at 7 p.m. tonight at Wilson High School.
Why should Hempfield be wary of the Falcons? The Black Knights, after all,
are 53-0 on the season and ranked No. 1 in the state. "We know absolutely nothing about them,'" said Hempfield coach
Mike Vogel, talking about Pennsbury. "That can be a bit scary."
Like most coaches would, Vogel kept track of the District One tournament
and figured Council Rock would be one of the two District One teams to make
it to states. But Pennsbury (13-7) knocked Council Rock, ranked fourth in the
state, out of districts. Souderton is the other District One rep.
Unfamiliarity with the Falcons may serve Hempfield well in this instance.
The Black Knights are fresh from laying waste to teams in the District Three
Tournament. They needed something to make them feel that they would have to
do more than just show up tonight. "It's like, "You better bring your "A" game,"
'" Vogel said. "You can't assume anything. Plus, it's always good
to play somebody different. You live on the edge a little better and you
concentrate a little more." One thing Vogel and the Black Knights know about the state tournament is
that every team is a good team. "Now you play against kids who want to win,'" he said.
"Maybe not all of the teams have the talent but they start playing from
their heart and anybody can upset anybody at any time." One of the differences between the district tournament and the state
tournament is that the matches will move from a best of three games to a best
of five. This is a first for the state tourney and Vogel favors the increase
in games. "You can relax a little bit,'" he said. "In a best of
three, the team that gets out of the blocks first usually wins. In this case,
the better team tends to win because there is more time."
The Black Knights advanced to the state semifinals last season, falling to
Montour, 15-13, 15-12. Ben Murray and Tony Spangler, who lead this year's
team in kills, Matt Baker, Keith Maurer and Steve Mummaw played on that team
last season and know what states is all about. "They will be a little more comfortable (this time),'" Vogel
said. "The first time you go, you're in awe." Relaxed but ready for anything. That's the only way the Black Knights get
through the Falcons and advance to Friday's pool play at Shippensburg
University. "We have to win (tonight),'" Vogel said. "We can't look
past anybody at this stage.'" |